OSD systems are mostly requested for compliance reasons, but the industry experience is not often considered when legislation is created. Governmental bodies create specifications describing how these systems should perform; however, the resulting reasoning is not always based on real life experience and doesn’t take into account the technology’s possibilities and limitations. Closer cooperation with the suppliers and experts would be beneficial, particularly as these processes are thorough, rigid, and unlikely to be adapted based on user experience and feedback.

Why are OSD system investments rarely prioritised?

If a company is forced to implement OSD for compliance reasons rather than an intrinsic interest in having real-time quality data, the process often results with them buying the cheapest system that only fulfills the minimum specifications. Once installed, the system is not used much before the next audit.

As usability and data quality weren’t top priorities in the first place, upgrading to the latest and greatest product is always a hard or even impossible task. Is buying the cheapest system essentially a wasted purchase?

More than just oil spill detection

Proper and reliable spill detection starts with early alarm generation (with a low risk of false alarms) and encompasses a wide range of criteria: fully automated spill detection with no need for manual intervention; tracking in the toughest conditions and optimal function in low visibility or darkness; slick characterisation by area and drift; and the ability to interpret multiple indicators simultaneously to only trigger alarms when the ‘right’ combination is identified.

All activities should be displayed on an actionable and shareable user interface.

An ideal system offers continuous monitoring and can be used either standalone or as part of a sensor network. Furthermore, an OSD system should be function optimally whether mounted on offshore installations, vessels, or shore-based stations respectively and have proven efficacy in genuine spill incidents, following thorough tests and verifications in oil-in-water exercises.

Can we afford the cheapest system to combat pollution?

Early alarms for quick mobilisation are key to reducing the threat posed to marine wildlife and the ecosystem. Early alarm generation allows for appropriate spill response to keep the oil from spreading over larger areas, making it easier to combat and avoid further pollution during recovery operations.